Animated signboard



men. 24-, 1929. R CQRDILL AL L740Ar99 ANIMATED SIGNBOARD Filed Sept. 15. 1926 IN VEN TOR.

IQEX C012 BILL Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE REX CORDILL, OF LOS ANGELES, .ANI) HENRY C. YUNKER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA; SAID YUNKER ASSIGNOR TO SAID CORDILL ANIMATED SIG-NZBOAJRJD Application filed September 13, 1926. Serial No. 135,604.

Our invention relates to improvements in animate-d sign boards, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

An object of our invention is to provide an animated sign board which combines the features of a standard bill board with movable print or other moving characters, this print being adapted to move across the bill board thereby attracting attention of passers-by.

A further object (if our invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the moving characters or letters may be disposed in a straight line or in an arc.'

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the type described in which means is provided for shielding the area over which the letters move, from the rays of light used in illuminating the sign board.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a sign board showing our device operativcly. applied thereto Figure 2 is a front elevation of a modified form of sign board, showing our device operatively applied thereto,

Figure 3 is a section along the line 38 of Figure 2, and 4 Figure 4 is a section along the line kof Figure 2.

In carrying out our invention we provide a sign board of the shape shown in Figures 2, 3, and at. The sign board 1 is provided with a curved aperture 2 therein. This aperture is preferably covered with a translucent glass 3. A shield 4 protects the glass 3 from the rays of the light 5.

In Figure 3 we show a projector 6 in which a disc 7 is mounted. A motor 8 or other suitable means is provided for rotating the disc 7. The disc 7 carries characters or letters thereon which are adaptedto be projected upon the glass 3. It Will be seen from this construction that a rotation of the disc 7 will make it appear as if the letters are moving across the glass 3. These letters may convey a message if desired.

From the foregoing description of thevarious parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

' The projector 6 is disposed a sufficient distance in back of the sign 1 to make the letters flash upon the glass 3 of the desired type. ()nly a portion of the letters upon the disc 7 are projected upon the glass 3 at a single time. One complete rotation of the disc 7 will flash the entire message carried by the disc, upon the glass 8. The movement of the letters upon the glass 3 attracts instant attention of the passcrsby.

In Figure 1 we show a slightly modified form of the device. This form of the device is identical to the form of the device shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4:, with the exception that the glass 10 extends in a straight line instead of being arcuatc-shaped as shown in Figure 2. The glass 10 may be disposed in any angle desired or may be disposed in a horizontal line. If the glass 10 is disposed in an angular position, as shown at Figure 1, the projector is tilted at the same angle. \Vhere a straight line of letters is used, an endless ribbon tape may be employed instead of the disc 7. The length of the message will depend upon the length of the tape employed.

A sign constructed in the manner just set forth will attract far more attention than will an illuminated sign having stationary characters and printing thereon. The device is extremely simple in construction and is thoroughly efiicient for the purpose intended.

1. A standard bill board, a projecting apparatus to the rear of said bill board, means for illuminating a face of said bill board, an aperture in said bill board, means for shading the aperture from the aforesaid illuminating means, and means disposed within the aperture adapted to have characters projected thereon.

2. A standard bill board, means for illuminating a face of said bill board, an aperture in said bill board, means for shading the aperture from the aforesaid illuminating 5 means, translucent glass disposed Within said aperture, a disc having characters thereon, means for rotating said disc, and means for projecting the characters from said disc upon said glass.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

REX CORDILL. HENRY O. YUNKER. 

